Animal-trap



E. L. LEWIS. ANIMAL TRAP.

(No Model.)

Patented Apr,- 12, 1 8972.

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WASHINGION n c UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.v

ELLIOTT L. LEWIS, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 472,733, dated April 12, 1892.

Application filed September 16, 1891- Serial No. 405,868. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELLIOTT L. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal -Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

Figure l ofthe drawings is a top plan View of my improved trap set in a position for use. Fig. 2 is a side view of the keeper detached. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the trigger.

Myimproved trap comprisesaspring-bow A and a bow-string B, having a noose B, together with holding and tripping mechanism for operating the trap. The holding mechanism consists of a pair of links 0 and C, respectively hinged by one end to the arms of the bow. One of the links 0 is comparatively rigid, preferably in the form of a straight bar, and provided with an end hook O adapted to engage with one end of the trigger-block O secured to the link 0', which is flexible and preferably a stringorcord. The end hook engages one end of the block to hold the bow bent in a state of tension, the other end of the block being held in engagement with the rigid link by means of the bait-trigger D, having a notch orrecess PD, adapted to receive the block and lapping link and clamp them together. As soon as the trigger is tripped or moved sufficiently to loose its hold upon both the link and block the resilient force of the bow causes the block to swing upon the hook and escape therefrom by reason of the flexible connection with the bow. The bow-string is provided with a noose, which may be of any known form. As the bow straightens out to resume its normal condition the noose is drawn up and incloses some part of the animal. As a preferred and novel form of noose, I have shownthe string in two doubled parts, the ends of one part-being secured to one end of the bow and the ends of the other part secured to the other end of the bow. The folded end B of each part incloses the folded strands of the other part. The string may be made of any flexible material, but preferably of fine wire when given the form shown. The bow may be made of any spring material, but preferably of spring-wire with the middle spring coil or coils A, the loops or eyes A to receive the links, and the eyes A to receive the string, and the keeper K. The keeper is employed to hold the bow in a bent position while the noose and trigger are being properly adjusted, and its position for that purpose is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The keeper is provided with end hooks adapted to enter the end eyes on the bow, as indicated by the dotted lines. After the trap is properly adjusted the keeper is removed. The bait is placed upon or near the trigger, and the trap may be so covered or guarded that the animal will approach it in the direction of the noose. The noose may be arranged in any known manner to catch the animal by the head or by a foot, as desired. The wire forming the bow may be of any desired size and strength.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a trap, the combination, with a spring bow, of a noose connection between its ends, a detachable link connection between its arms, and a bait-trigger for detachably maintaining the link connection, substantially as described.

2. In an animal-trap, the combination, with a bow and a bow-string provided witlrappose ofaba'r-link hinged at one end to one arm of the bow and provided with a hook at the other end, a string-link secured at one endto the other arm of the bow and provided with a trigger-block, and a detachable trigger adapted to clamp the block and bar-link together, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of September, 1891.

ELLIOTT L. LEWIS. Witnesses:

GEo. A. MOSHER, FRANK 0. CURTIS. 

